Sandy Holtz and Jade Bowman both enjoy spending time with animals, creating craft projects and playing games. These common interests are the basis of their friendship – even though they are years apart.

After retiring from teaching three years ago, Holtz decided to volunteer for Litchfield Area Mentorship Program-Kinship, a youth mentoring program for children ages 5 to 17 in Meeker County. That’s how she met 11-year-old Bowman, a youth on the waiting list for a mentor.

“As a retired teacher, I wanted to be involved in the community in some way,” Holtz said. “I learned about the program and thought it would be worthwhile and rewarding.”

Holtz was first paired with a local student until that student’s family moved away. In April, Holtz became matched with Bowman. Students are recommended to the mentorship program through school, social services or parents if they see a need. Students and volunteers then fill out a survey of their interests, and are matched according to what they like to do, Holtz said.

“So we have those base similarities,” Holtz said. “We started with activities I knew (Bowman) would enjoy.”

Holtz and Bowman meet once a week and spend around two hours doing activities together such as bowling, swimming, creating crafts or taking Holtz’ dog for a walk. Holtz said on one occasion, they made snacks for Bowman to take home and share with her family. Sometimes, Holtz helps Bowman with her homework, too.

“We try to keep a consistent schedule,” Holtz said.

Tiana Schweim, coordinator for LAMP, said mentors are asked to meet with youth once a week or once every two weeks to keep the routine consistent. The pairs are also encouraged to attend organized LAMP activities such as bingo nights, fishing tournaments and other group activities.

“Meeting on a regular basis to create that friendship is the goal here,” Schweim said. “I want to keep them involved.”

Bowman said her favorite activity in school is basketball, so Holtz and Bowman spent one of their get-togethers playing the sport.

“We do learn things from each other,” Holtz said with a smile.

When Holtz was first matched with Bowman, the pair created short-term and long-term goals. Their short-term goals were to play basketball and go bowling; the long-term goals were to paint and read a chapter book together. So in the beginning of June, Holtz and Bowman went to the library and picked out a mystery book about cats. They plan to read a bit every time they meet, Holtz said.

“It’s very rewarding for me. I feel by being able to help someone else, I get just as much benefit,” Holtz said of spending time with Bowman. “And it’s fun.”

Litchfield Area Mentorship Program was created in 2008 as a non-profit organization fully supported by donations, foundation grants and fundraising events. This January, Schweim took over the coordinator position.

“I love the kids. I love doing the case work part of it, watching the successes,” Schweim said, adding that the program provides positive opportunities and positive role models for local kids.

Schweim said about 20 youth are currently enrolled in the program. Twelve kids are matched with mentors, but about seven kids are waiting for a mentor. Those students are invited to the group activities, but lack a mentor to meet with on a regular basis.

“The only cost to a mentor is time,” Schweim said of volunteers, noting everything is free for the mentors.

15-year-old Dominic Anderson has been a part of the program for more than two years, and is currently waiting to be rematched. Anderson’s favorite LAMP activity, he said, was the fishing tournament last July. He also said he enjoys the group activities, such as the gathering in early June at the organization’s office in downtown Litchfield.

“It just gives us something to do, especially during the summer,” Anderson said of attending the group activities. Anderson, along with his sister, Olivia, and another youth, Elijah Nichols, spent time at the last gathering building a roller coaster out of foam pieces and marbles.

Schweim said the local 4-H group borrowed the roller coaster kids to LAMP, along with other science-based projects such as painting with vegetables and designing a color wheel. Schweim and the students also created a rainbow in a jar out of different colored liquids with varying densities, a project Schweim discovered in a library book.

“I love that I can be the bridge for these kids,” Schweim said of the projects that connect the mentorship program to organizations such as 4-H and the library.

Schweim said she is currently working on a strategic plan so the mentorship program can become sustainable in the community, and not 100 percent dependent on grants.

“We need to show off the good we’re doing every day,” she said. The mentorship program is currently holding one of the highest numbers of youth it has seen since the program’s inception, Schweim said.

“I believe that this program can succeed in this community, if we give the community a chance to be part of it,” she said.